Automatic trap or valve for draining heating systems.



PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

J. H. DAVIS. AUTOMATIC TRAPOR VALVE FOR DRAINING HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1905 Inventor Witnesses" (a ?/%g/% Att 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT. FIPIECE.

JAMES H. DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed July 8,1905. Serial No. 268,77i.

To all Lu/bent it 'HMLZ/ cmtccrn:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Traps orValves for Draining Heating Systems, of which the following is adescription.

My invention belongs to that class of devices designed to automaticallydrain the pipes of a steam or vapor heating system, and has for itsobject the production of a simple, effective, and reliable device forthat purpose.

To this end my invention consists in' the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved trap.Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a vertical section of a slightly-modified form, and Fig. 4 is atransverse section of the same on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings, l is a suitable shellconstructed to be connected in and form a part ofa heating system andprovided with a removable cap'2, affording ready access to the interior.

3 is the inlet, and l the discharge-opening, to the shell. The inner endof the outlet 4 is formed to receive the snugly-fitting end 5 of aremovable thimble 6. The upper end 7 of the thimble provides a seat foracooperating movable member whose movements control the discharge throughthe thimble 6, and thus the outlet I.

8 is a vertically-movable float carrying a member 9, constructed andarranged to seat upon the end 7 of the thimble 6 and by the movement ofthe float control the discharge through the thimble, as above mentioned.The float 8 is preferably in substantially the form shown, in which aquantity of air is confined beneath it, which as the fluid accumulatesin the shell is'somewhat compressed, adding to the buoyancy of thefloat. Suitable guides 10 11 or equivalent means for the purpose areprovided to insure the accurate operation of the device. As shown, thevalve 9 is carried by a rod or tube 15, centrally depending from thefloat, while suitable cars 12 13, carried by the float, loosely embracethe guides 10 and 11. I11 the construction shown a tube or duct extendsfrom the outlet 4 to a point above the line of flotation. As shown inFigs. 1 and 2, such duct is shown at 14 extending along the base of theshell and connecting with the lower end of the tube 11, which also actsas one of the guides and extends above the level of any liquid thatwould be likely to accumulate before the valve would operate to releaseit. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the duct is shown at 16 and extendsthrough the central member 15 to the top of the float. In either case Iprefer to use means to aid in keeping the duct free and open. As shown,such means in the form shown in Fig. 1 consists in a small rod 17,carried by the float and extending downward into the duct in the tube11. As shown in Fig. 3, it consists in a similar rod 18, carried by thecap 2 and extending into the duct 16.

It is obvious that in either case the movement of the float causes acorresponding rela* tive movement of the rod and the duct into which itextends, tending to dislodge any dirt or other matter that might betherein and insuring a free passage of air therethrough.

It will be readily seen that the upper end of the thimble is elevatedabove the floor of the shell and preferably above the plane of the loweredge of the float, thus providing for the retention of suflicient fluidin the shell to form a seal with the float, and hence prevent exhaustingthe air confined therein. Such exhaustion would tend to form a partialvacuum within the float, which would decrease the buoyancy thereof, andthus interfere with the efliciency of the device. It is also clear thatin cleaning the trap the thimble may be readily removed after theremoval of the float, permitting the complete draining of the trap andthe ready removal of any accumulated sediment or dirt.

In the construction of my device I prefer to use the well-known form ofshellshown, in which a depending wall or apron 19 extends below theplane of the inlet 3, causing a seal when the fluid fills the shell tothe level of the lower end of the wall. Thereafter any tendency toward apartial vacuum above the float by reason of the vacuum-pump orequivalent means will also increase the buoyancy of the float, and hencethe prompt and eflective operation of the device.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with aninlet, and with an outlet in the base, a float provided with a dependingmarginal edge and a valve inclosed by the marginal edge with its faceabove the horizontal plane of the lower extreme of the margin, incombination with a removable thimble for the outlet with its top forminga valve-seat elevated above the floor of the shell, and an air-ductextendin from the outlet to the space above the line 0 flotation. 2. Adevice of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with an outletpositioned in its base, an inlet, and an invertedoup-shaped floatprovided with a depending stem carrying a valve positioned above thehorizontal plane of the lower margin of the float, in combination with aremovable thimble in the outlet with its upper end extending above thefloor of the shell and terminating in an elevated valve-seat and anair-duct extending from the outlet to the space above the line offlotation.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with anoutlet positioned in its base, an inlet, a depending wall before theinlet extending below the horizontal plane of the same, and aninverted-cupshaped float provided with a depending stem carrying a valveabove the horizontal plane of the lower margin of the float, incombination with a removable thimble for the outlet arranged with itsupper end extending above the floor of the shell in line with the valveand providing an elevated seat for the valve and an air-duct extendingfrom the outlet to the space above the line of flotation.

4. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with anoutlet positioned in its base the opening to which is elevated above thefloor of the shell, an inlet, a depending wall before the inletextending below the horizontal plane of the same, in combination with aninverted-cup-shaped float provided with a depending stem with a valve onits lower end in line with the outlet and constructed to control thesame and an air duct extending from the outlet to the space above theline of flotation.

5. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with anoutlet positioned in its base, an inlet, a depending wall before theinlet extending below the horizontal plane of the same, and aninverted-cupshaped float provided with a depending stem carrying a valvein line with the outlet, in combination with a removable thimble for theoutlet arranged with its upper end extended above the floor of the shellproviding an elevated seat for the valve, an air-duct extending from theoutlet to the space above the line of flotation, and means for freeingthe duct of dust.

6. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with aninlet and an outlet, guiding-rods for a vertically-movable float, anair-duct extending from the outlet to and longitudinally through one ofthe guiding-rods and a removable thimble for the entrance to the outlet,in combination with a float provided with means loosely embracing Y theguiding-rods and provided with a part arranged to normally close the endof the thimble and control the discharge.

7. A device of the kind described, comprising a shell provided with aninlet and an outlet, guiding-rods for a vertically-movable float, anair-duct extending from the outlet to and longitudinally through one ofthe guide-rods, and a removable thimble for the entrance to the outlet,in combination with a float provided with means loosely embracing theguide-rods, and a depending rod carried by the float provided at itslower end with a part constructed to seat upon the end of the thimble tonormally close the same and by the operation of the float to control thedischarge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

BURTON U. HILLS, CHARLES I. COBB.

